10 greatest number 10s of all time

#3 JOHAN CRUYFF

Johan Cruyff during his Ajax playing days

An incredibly gifted player, Johan Cruyff arguably changed the way the game was played; first as a player, then as a manager.

An Ajax youth product who made over 200 league appearances and scored 190 goals for his boyhood club, Cruyff moved to Barcelona in 1973, where he would change the club's future in many ways. As a player, he was famous for his "Cruyff Turn", as well as his creativity and passing.

He retired as a player in 1984 and became manager of Ajax in 1985. Here he would begin to implement his "Total Football" philosophy; something which he would take over to Barcelona when he became manager there. The likes of Pep Guardiola and Quique Setien are ardent "Cruyffistas", having been heavily influenced by the great man.

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#2 LIONEL MESSI

Lionel Messi is regarded as the greatest player of all-time

Arguably the greatest player to have played the game of football, Lionel Messi's legacy increases on a daily basis.

Barcelona's talisman for some time now, the Argentina international is currently the club's best passer, best creator and best goalscorer. A prodigious talent, Messi's skills were honed at the famed La Masia academy, where he trained alongside the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique.

Perfection from Lionel Messi 🎯pic.twitter.com/NQOVfXd533

— Goal (@goal) August 11, 2020

Barcelona is in disarray right now, and Messi has been the sole bright spot. The 33-year old has only one year left in his contract, and it has been heavily rumoured that he might leave the club this season out of sheer frustration at how things are being run.

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#1 DIEGO MARADONA

Diego Maradona is often seen as one of the best to have played the game

One of football's true global superstars, Diego Armando Maradona was one of football's finest players.

Messi has been often compared to Maradona for various reasons; their playing style, their nationality and their diminutive stature. Maradona was a brilliant and dynamic footballer belssed with excellent passing, dribbling and technical ability. His European adventure began with Barcelona, but he became the best in the world at Napoli, where he is seen as a legend.

Diego Maradona versus half the English team to make it 2-0 to Argentina.Interesting note: this goal (see .GIF) and the "Hand of God" goal were scored by Diego within 5 min. of eachother. A ruinous 5 minutes for English hopes in the tournament it would turn out.#GreatestGoal pic.twitter.com/COgXsCpM23

— Football in the '90s (@9tiesfootball) August 13, 2020

Maradona almost singlehandedly won the World Cup for Argentina with some special goals that truly transcended the game itself. A feat that Messi has been unable to replicate. This has made critics and fans put Maradona above Messi, whenever debates erupt as to who is the best player among the two.

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